1996 Olympic Games, Atlanta, USA, Sanford Stadium, Georgia, Men's Football, Gold Medal Match, Nigeria 3 v Argentina 2, Nigerian goalkeeper Joseph Dosu celebrates his team+s gold medal win (Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Dosu Joseph urges coaches to trust home-based goalkeepers in the NPFL, NNL, and NLO, saying Nigeria has enough talent to succeed at the highest level.
Former Nigeria international goalkeeper Dosu Joseph has spoken strongly about the challenges facing home-based goalkeepers in the country, calling for more trust and opportunities from national team and club coaches.
He believes one of the biggest problems affecting player selection in Nigerian football is not a lack of talent, but a lack of confidence in players who compete in the domestic leagues such as the NPFL, NNL, and NLO.
According to Dosu, Nigeria is blessed with quality goalkeepers across all levels, but many of them are overlooked simply because they play at home rather than abroad.
“There is a lot of talent when we talk about goalkeepers in Nigeria, not just in the NPFL but also in the NNL and NLO. It’s all about the coach’s belief in home-based goalkeepers,” he said.
He stressed that once coaches show trust in these players, they are capable of performing at a very high level without fear or pressure affecting their game.
“Once coaches trust them and give them opportunities, they will surely do well,” Dosu added.
The former Super Eagles star also pointed out that many coaches still hesitate to pick goalkeepers from the domestic league, even when their performance suggests they are ready.
He described this hesitation as a long-standing issue that continues to affect selection decisions in Nigerian football.
“The fear of using goalkeepers from the NPFL has always affected coaches’ selections,” he explained.
Despite this challenge, Dosu maintained that Nigeria has always produced top-level goalkeepers both locally and internationally, but opportunity remains the key factor.
He praised former Super Eagles coaches Sunday Oliseh and the late Stephen Keshi for their willingness to trust players from the Nigerian league during their time in charge.
Dosu recalled that Oliseh once fielded several NPFL players in a single match, while Keshi’s belief in home-based talent helped Nigeria win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
“It’s all about belief. Once you believe in a player, whether an outfield player or a goalkeeper, just give him the opportunity to play and show his talent,” he said.
Nigeria has a strong history of producing world-class goalkeepers, including former Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama, who began his career in the domestic league before becoming one of Africa’s best.
In recent years, Stanley Nwabali has also followed a similar path, rising from the Nigerian league to become the country’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Young talents are also emerging, with players like Ebenezer Harcourt attracting attention for their performances at youth and club level.
Harcourt made headlines after becoming one of Nigeria’s youngest-ever players at just 15 years old, earning his debut during the 2024 CHAN tournament.
He also featured for Nigeria’s U-20 team that finished third at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and played a key role in Sporting Lagos’ promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Dosu’s message highlights a wider debate in Nigerian football about balancing foreign-based stars with domestic league players, especially in key positions like goalkeeping.
As Nigeria continues to develop new talents, his call is clear: trust the home-based players and give them the chance to prove themselves on the biggest stage.
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